RICKY Ponting says Pakistan is a mysterious and unpredictable opponent who will provide a tougher test for Australia than the West Indies.
Pakistan didn't play a Test between December 2007 and February 2009 and is just adjusting to the five-day game.
It has unearthed several youngsters of enormous talent including 17-year-old left-arm quick Mohammad Aamer, who can bowl with reverse swing at speeds approaching 150km/h.
Batsman Umar Akmal - the younger brother of wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal - is also one to watch after scoring 129 on his Test debut against New Zealand in Dunedin last month.
As with just about all of the Pakistanis, there is an air of intrigue and mystery about Umar. The confident youngster says he is 21 - even though he is officially listed as 19.
Ponting doesn't quite know what to expect - except the unexpected.
"They do have a lot of mystery about them. I think that's probably the word that sums them up the best," he said.
"They are unpredictable. One day they can be brilliant, another day they can be pretty ordinary, so we've got to make sure they have more ordinary days than brilliant ones over the next few weeks.
"They're a more skilled group of players than the West Indies, there's no doubt about that.
"We know with Pakistan that when they put their best foot forward they are a very, very good cricket team."
Meanwhile, former England batsman Geoff Boycott has said Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson should not be playing in the Boxing Day Test.
Boycott says both players should have been suspended for their fiery altercation with West Indian spinner Sulieman Benn in the Perth Test.
Benn was suspended for two one-day matches for making contact with Johnson.
The Australians escaped with fines even though Johnson made contact with Benn and Haddin waved his bat at the Windies spinner.
"Throughout sport the instigator tends to be dealt with more leniently than the players who retaliate," Boycott said on website Cricinfo.
"I don't agree with that. If they (Benn and Haddin) had both been suspended for two games and Johnson for one, I think that would have been fair.
"It would have shown to everybody in cricket that any sort of bad behaviour is not going to be tolerated."LINK
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